State Pares Down Prosecutor Applicants

August 07, 1991|By LYNNE TUOHY; Courant Staff Writer

WALLINGFORD -- Members of the Criminal Justice Commission decided Tuesday to interview five of the 13 applicants for the job of chief state's attorney, and asked incumbent chief prosecutor John J. Kelly to stay on until Oct. 15 while they complete the selection process.

Kelly has not reapplied for the job he has held for the past six years. Although his term was scheduled to expire June 30, he agreed in June to stay on until Sept. 15 while the commission selected his successor. He said Tuesday he has not yet decided whether to remain another month.

Lawyer James Stapleton, commission chairman, would not identify any of the job applicants. However, seven of the 13 applications came from prosecutors in the Division of Criminal Justice, including Hartford State's Attorney John M. Bailey and Bridgeport State's Attorney Donald Browne.

Connecticut's U.S. Attorney, Richard Palmer, also is among the applicants and is considered the leading candidate. The other five applications came from lawyers in private practice, including one from out-of-state. Being a state resident and a member of the Connecticut Bar are two criteria for the job, which pays $81,020 a year.

The commission scheduled two interviews for Sept. 12 and three for Sept. 16. Although no target date was announced for filling the post, the request to have Kelly remain until Oct. 15 indicates the commission anticipates making a permanent appointment by then. A majority vote of the six members is required for appointment.

The chief state's attorney oversees a staff of 391, including 200 prosecutors, and a budget of $20 million. Although the state's attorneys in the 12 judicial districts usually control their own cases, the chief state's attorney largely sets the tenor of the division of criminal justice by deciding what legislative proposals to push and what statewide investigations to pursue, using his own prosecutors and inspectors based in Wallingford.

Kelly has been criticized for not pursuing political corruption cases and for being an ineffective lobbyist at the Capitol. However, he also has created a money-making asset-forfeiture unit and a successful network of drug prosecutors.

The commission Tuesday passed a resolution honoring Kelly's 24 years as a state prosecutor and his "steadfast dedication to the cause of justice and the public interest." The resolution extended thanks to Kelly and wishes "for success and personal fulfillment in the years to come." It also expressed hope -- not tantamount to a job offer -- "that the state may feel free to call upon him again in the future, when his needs and proven talents combine to make that appropriate."